Cable connector



March 5, 1968 R. W G 3,372,361

v CABLE CONNECTOR Filed June 15, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR HENRY R. WENGEN BY ATTORN March 5, 1968 H. R. WENGEN CABLE CONNECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 15, 1965 FIG. 4;

III

l III/II INVENTOR HENRY R. WENGEN ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,372,361 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 3,372,361 CABLE CONNECTOR Henry R. Wengen, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., assignor t Fargo Mfg. Company, Inc, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 15, 1965, Ser. No. 464,020 1 Claim. (Cl. 33997) This invention relates generally to electrical cable connectors and more particularly to a cable connector which can readily be applied to a cable by a lineman without removing the insulation from the cable.

In making connections between electrical cables when one of these is in place, or in tapping off of an existing cable, the lineman must work under the field conditions as they exist. Various type connectors have been designed for the lineman to use in tapping into an existing cable and each of these designs has attempted to solve certain practical problems which exist in the field. For the most part, however, these connectors have been impractical since they require a lineman wearing insulation gloves to make difiicult hand or finger maneuvers or require him to perform a variety and plurality of operations. Since the cable to be tapped into is generally encircled wtih heavy insulation, it has been necessary in the past for the lineman to strip the insulation or bare the cable prior to using the connector in making the connection.

It is the principal object of this invention, therefore, to provide an electrical connector with which a lineman may tap into an existing cable and one which does not require baring or exposure of the conductor and one which eliminates the necessity of the removal of insulation.

It is another object of this invention to provide an electrical cable connector, the use of which will establish a good electrical connection and one that is insulated both electrically and from the weather.

It is another object of this invention to provide an electrical connector which can be used by a lineman in tapping off from an electrical cable in position with a minimum of operations and without the necessity of perform ing difficult functions with the arms or hands.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an electrical cable connector which, without further operations, will leave the connection covered so that it is safe against accidental brush contact or short circuits from animals.

The invention consists essentially of an electrical connector having piercing contact means to pierce an insulated conductor to establish contact without the necessity of stripping the insulation; such piercing contact means being comprised of a single conducting point or a plurality of conducting points spaced from each other at distances suitable for straddling the strands of the conductor within the cable. The cable tension causes the adjacent strands within the cable to zig-zag around the piercing contact means to provide additional contact area and the configuration of the piercing contact means is such so as to provide an action which will not cut the strands.

An electrical cable connector embodying the invention and the manner of using the same is described herein with references to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectional elevational view of the connector shown in FIG. 1' in assembled condition;

FIG. 3 is a partiallyv sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 44 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view of the connector when used as a tap off connection with a protective housing;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the connector shown in FIG. 1 but using an adaptor;

FIG. 7 is a partially sectional elevational view of the connector similar to the view in FIG. 2 but with the adaptor of PEG. 6 shown therein;

FIG. 8 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view with portions cut away of an alternate embodiment of the invention utilized to connect two substantially parallel cables; and

FIG. 10 is a view of the cable connector disclosed herein utilized to electrically connect a lightning-arrester to a cable.

The connector which is the subject of this invention is indicated in FIGS. 14 by the numeral 20 and consists of circular cover 21 with downwardly directed peripheral skirt 22 having an internal threaded surface 23, circular body 24 with a transverse U-cutout portion or groove 25 defined by the sides 27 and 28 which have threaded outside surfaces 29 and 30, respectively, complementary with the inner threaded surface 23 of cover skirt 22, pressure pad 31 and piercing contact member 32.

The piercing contact member 32 is the only part of the connector which is not formed of an insulating material and is generally cylindrical in configuration with a threaded female insert portion 33 formed in end surface 34 and spaced piercing points 35 and 36 projecting from its remaining end 26 in the direction of pressure pad 31 in the assembled condition of the device.

Although two piercing points are utilized herein, more than two can be used and in some applications a single point of the configuration disclosed may be acceptable. The piercing points are long enough so that each can pass between two layers of conductor strands 37 after piercing insulation 38 of a cable such as cable 39 shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 when the connector is assembled with cable 39 the-rein. The distance between piercing points 35 and 36 is chosen so that the points can straddle one strand of cable with the average pitch or lay of the cable size in connection with which the connector is to be used. The cable is normally under some tension providing a zig-Zag effect and keeping additional contact at the piercing points since the strands 37 which are disposed substantially helically are drawn in the direction of the arrows indicated by the letters A and B in FIG. 4. Each of the piercing points is contoured so that there is an increasing of the diameter of the point as the base of the point is approached from its apex. This provides the points with a glancing action when they are made to go between strands 37, displacing the strands slightly and allowing the points to enter between strands rather than hitting dead center which could cut a strand in two. Additionally, this contour also provides an improved weather-tight seal against the conductor insulation because there is a continuing tighter fit on the insulation due to the increase in diameter of the piercing teeth which aids in keeping moisture from entering the point at which the insulation 38 is pierced. The increasing diameter configuration allows for a good electrical contact in that it provides a wedging action of the surface of the piercing points against the strands 37. Additionally, light serra tions, not shown, can be formed on the teeth to abrade the contact surfaces with the cable strands to provide a lower resistance contact due to scratching of the wire.

Pressure pad 31 has a flat upper surface 40 which is pivotally connected to the under surface 41 of cover 21 and a lower contoured or arcuate surface 42 formed to receive therein in snug fit cable 39 and embrace the insulation 38 thereof. The pressure pad is generally rectangular in shape with sides 43 and 44 and ends 45 and 46. The longitudinal dimension or length of pressure pad 31 is such that it can be rotated about its pivotal connection provided by pin 47 which passes through hole 48 in pad 31 to be embedded in the surface 41 of cover 21 without encountering skirt 22 of the cover. The ends 45 and 46 can be arcuate so as to complement the circular configuration of the skirt. The distance between sides 43 and 44, or the width of the pressure pad, is less than the distance between sides 28 and 29 of body 24 so that the pressure pad can be disposed within U-slot 25 in the assembled condition of the device.

To use the connector, the lineman merely disposes the connector so that the cable is Within groove 25 and then places pad 31 therein and engages the threads 23 of skirt 22 of cover 21 with the threads 29 and 30 of body 28. As the cover is rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 1, the pressure pad pushes down on the insulation of the cable forcing the cable against the piercing points 35 and 36 which pierce insulation 38. Sides 27 and 28 together with the insulationsupport the cable during the movement of the piercing points therein. The points find their way through the insulation and between strands 37 due to the configuration of the poipts and the spacing of the points. Since the piercing contact member 32 is formed of a conducting material, the contact member 32 is in electrical continuity with the strands of cable 39.

In actual practice, when the connector is used for tapping off from cable 39, the tap off line would be connected to contact member 32 through use of a connector having a threaded projecting portion which can be reeived within the threaded insert 33.

In FIG. a tap off line 50 is shown having affixed to its end a connector 51 with such a threaded projection which is indicated by the numeral 52 in FIG. 5. It is noted that in FIG. 5 a housing 53 having a funnel-shaped central portion 54, cylindrical end 55 and a larger cylindrical end 56 is shown and the body of the connector in that embodiment has in addition to threads 29 and 30, a threaded portion 57 which can receive the threads on the inside surface of cylindrical portion 56, these threads being indicated by the numeral 58. Housing 53 is designed so that its smaller cylindrical end 55 can firmly enclose the insulation of cable 50 and its cylindrical end 56 can be fastened to the connector body. It is noted also that although the cover 21 in FIG. 5 is the same cover used in FIGS. l-4 and the cable is indicated by the numeral 39 as in the earlier figures, the body is different since it is provided with a well portion 59 in its face which receives the piercing contact member 32 so that the 'well can be filled with a corrosion inhibitor which becomes sealed as nut 60 is tightened. The corrosion inhibitor can be placed in well 59 at the factory and is useful in bimetallic connections such as where the material from which the contact material 32 is formed is different from the material from which the smaller connector 51 is formed.

FIGS. 6-8 show a connector which is substantially identical to the connector shown in the earlier figures having a cover 61 with a depending peripheral skirt 62 and a pressure pad 63 pivotally attached thereto. A body 64 is provided having a U-groove 65 and a piercing contact member 66. The body 64 and piercing contact member 66 are respectively identical with body 24 and piercing contact 32 previously described. The cover 61 is identical to the cover 21, previously described. In this embodiment, however, an adapter 67 is provided which is substantially cylindrical having a surface 68 which is complementary to the surface 69 of pad 63 and which has projecting members 70 and 71 which can be received within holes 72 and 73 formed in pressure pad 63. The adapter 67 is provided with a groove which is arcuate and which is formed to receive therein a snug fit cable 74, the groove being indicated by the numeral 75 in the figures.

In the subject invention it is important in certain applications to have as snug a fit as possible so that the cable is held firmly in position when the piercing points are allowed to enter into it. With small diameter cables the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1-4 ma not be completely satisfactory and therefore provision is made in the embodiment in FIG. 6 of an adapter with projecting members received within complementary formed recesses in the pressure pad.

In FIG. 9 two connectors of the type shown in the embodiments previously described are shown but conducting pin 76 having threaded ends is received within the threaded inserts 77 and 78 of connectors 79 and 80, respectively. Thus, the piercing contact member 81 of connector 79 provides continuity with the piercing contact member 82 of connector to electrically connect cables 83 and 84 when covers 85 and 86 of connectors 79 and 80, respectively, are tightened forcing the piercing points of members 81 and 82 into their respective cables. The cables 83 and 84 are therefore coupled together in substantially parallel relationship.

In FIG. 10 a lightning-arrester 87 is shown having a threaded projecting member 88 which can be received within the threaded insert 89 of piercing contact member 90 of connector 91 to couple the lightning-arrester to cable 92 with insulating washer 93 providing insulation against weather and against animals or dirt.

It is seen, therefore, that a reliable connector has been provided which has many applications and which provides both a weather-tight and animal-proof seal, which seal is made at the time the connector is applied and the connector can be applied without the necessity of the lineman stripping the insulation from the cables involved, which, of course, necessitates the reapplication of insulation after the connection is made. The seal can be more effectively insulated through the use of insulating grease which can be applied at the factory and which can be confined and firmly held in position as the connector is tightened and this insulation or insulating grease need not be applied by the lineman. When used in certain applications, an improved bimetal joint is made, such as when a transformer connection is made. For example, the teeth can be in contact with aluminum cable and these piercing contact members would also be aluminum and the fittings that go on the lead cable would be copper so that the transit-ion of aluminum to copper in the stud could be sealed by factory installed inhibitor which, if an electrolyte is excluded prevents galvanic corrosion.

Thus, among others, the several objects in the invention, as specifically aforenoted, are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of parts might be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claim.

I claim:

1. A connector for a cable having a plurality of strands of substantially equal diameter and a surrounding insulation including in combination a non-conducting cylindrical body, a transverse groove formed in said body at one end thereof, a threaded portion of said body, a nonconducting cover, a threaded section of said cover engageable with said threaded portion, a non-conducting pressure pad pivotally attached to said cover and dimensionally formed to be received within said groove, said pad having a first arcuate surface of relatively large dimension, an adaptor adjacent said pressure pad nd formed to be embraced by said arcuate surface, a second arcuate surface of said adaptor having a dimension less than the dimension of said first arcuate surface, a contact member supported by said body and formed of a conducting material, an exposed threaded well of said contact member, a plurality 'of' electrically conducting piercing points formed on said contact member and which project within said groove, each of said piercing points being in length sufiicient to pass between two layers of strands of said plurality and said insulation and each of said piercing points having a contoured point with its apex away from said body and a base adjacent said body and being spaced from adjcent piercing points a distance greater than the diameter of one of said strands of said plurality allowing a straddling of said strands, whereby upon said threaded portion and said threaded section being engaged and said cover and said body drawn together said adaptor is forced against said cable and said piercing points are forced through said insulation and between strands, and means to maintain said adaptor in position on said pressure pad While the cable is being pierced.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,164,381 7/1939 Bradley 33997 2,515,484 7/1950 Zaleske 24-278 2,805,399 9/1957 Leeper 339-97 FOREIGN PATENTS 506,443- 11/1951 Belgium. 567,080 5/1958 Belgium.

24,596 10/1956 Germany. 763,087 12/1956 Great Britain.

a EDWARD ALLEN, Examiner.

J. H. McGLYNN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CONNECTOR FOR A CABLE HAVING A PLURALITY OF STRANDS OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL DIAMETER AND A SURROUNDING INSULATION INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A NON-CONDUCTING CYLINDRICAL BODY, A TRANSVERSE GROOVE FORMED IN SAID BODY AT ONE END THEREOF A THREADED PORTION OF SAID BODY, A NONCONDUCTING COVER, A THREADED SECTION OF SAID COVER ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID THREADED PORTION, A NON-CONDUCTING PRESSURE PAD PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID COVER AND DIMENSIONALLY FORMED TO BE RECEIVED WITHIN SAID GROOVE, SAID PAD HAVING A FIRST ARCUATE SURFACE OF RELATIVELY LARGE DIMENSION, AN ADAPTOR ADJACENT SAID PRESSURE PAD ND FORMED TO BE EMBRACED BY SAID ARCUATE SURFACE, A SECOND ARCUATE SURFACE OF SAID ADAPTOR HAVING A DIMENSION LESS THAN THE DIMENSION OF SAID FIRST ARCUATE SURFACE, A CONTACT MEMBER SUPPORTED BY SAID BODY AND FORMED OF A CONDUCTING MATERIAL, AN EXPOSED THREADED WELL OF SAID CONTACT MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING PIERCING POINTS FORMED ON SAID CONTACT MEMBER AND WHICH 